What Is Jazz Jennings’ Worth from ‘I Am Jazz’ and What Was Her Birth Name?

Reality television personality Jazz Jennings made a name for herself as one of the youngest people to transition from male to female. At age three she began her journey to transform, which eventually launched a reality television show, I Am Jazz on TLC.

The show premiered when Jennings was only 15 years old and continues to resonate with a growing number of fans. I Am Jazz opened its fifth season with Jennings having a very personal conversation with her physician. Along with her parents, Jennings discussed how gender conversion surgery would impact her libido, which can be tough for any teen.

Even though Jennings is only 18 years old, she’s been a smart businesswoman and has amassed a fortune most teens would only dream of building. Plus, she’s accomplished this while transitioning. So what is her financial worth and how did she get the name “Jazz?”

Jennings is already worth $500,000

Jennings’ fortune is built primarily on documenting her transition, according to The Gazette Review. She began appearing on different television shows at a young age to tell her story. And eventually the documentary, I Am Jazz: A Family in Transition was made to give a complete picture of Jennings’ journey.

She also founded Purple Rainbow Tails, a fundraising company for transgender children. TLC picked up on Jennings’ energy and offered her the series I Am Jazz in 2015. The show continued into its fifth season today. She also designed a bra through the company Kixteen. Her bra leaves the uncomfortable underwire out and replaces it with a stretchy material, aimed at being more appealing to teens. The bra retails for $35.

While The Gazette Review reports Jennings’ net worth is around $500,000, The Squander estimates her net worth to be around $200,000. The resource found that TLC pays show personalities about $10,000 per episode, which could mean her financial cut from the show alone could be closer to $200,000.

The Jennings family net worth is likely to be considerably higher, according to The Squander. Jennings’ father is a wills and trusts lawyer for a Florida law firm. Which could put his yearly earnings at around $300,000. Considering all family members on the show earn a paycheck, plus Jennings’ father’s salary, The Squander believes the family’s net worth could be closer to $5 or $10 million.

What was her birth name (and how did she choose the name Jazz)?

Jennings began her transition as early as her elementary school years. Which meant, when it came to choosing a new name, she was all about the princesses. Jennings birth name was Jared. Which, according to In Style, was what her mother called her until a few years ago.

As a five-year-old, Jennings watched her older sister portray the role of Princess Jasmine from Aladin. After her portrayal, Jennings’ sister bestowed the name upon her new sister.

Plus, to protect the family’s privacy, Jennings is not the family’s true last name. “Jennings is our pseudonym, to sort of make life easier. We try to hide our real last name as much as possible,” Jennings’ mom Jeanette told The Miami Herald in 2015. “Our last name is a very Jewish, long last name. We found it easier at this point. She’s known as Jazz Jennings. With the TV show, they’re not going to tell anybody where we live. The TV show is not going to reference our true last name.”